Merle Oberon, Oscar-nominated actress hid her roots and here's why! Watch the video
Merle Oberon broke barriers in Hollywood, but behind her glamorous career was a hidden story about her South Asian roots and identity
Bristi Dey
Merle Oberon made Oscar history in 1936 as the first actress of South Asian ancestry to receive a Best Actress nomination. Yet for much of her career, her Indian and mixed-race heritage remained a closely guarded secret. Here's why she did that.